Bore trials Rotor Sail on a RO/RO

Norsepower Rotor Sail installed on Estraden

NOVEMBER 30, 2014 — Finland’s Bore Shipping has started sea trials of a rotor sail auxiliary wind propulsion system on its 9,700 dwt RO/RO cargo vessel M/V Estraden.

Developed by Finnish marine engineering company Norsepower Oy Ltd., the18-m high rotor sail was installed on the vessel during an ordinary 7-hour harbor stay.

The installation was completed quickly because the required foundations had already been installed in the shipyard  during a scheduled drydocking last year.

“The Norsepower Rotor Sail Solution, which is appropriate for retrofitting to over 20 000 vessels in the global merchant fleet, can be installed on any vessel without any off-hire costs,” says Tuomas Riski, CEO and partner of Norsepower Oy Ltd. “In favorable wind conditions our solution is able to produce over 10% savings in fuel costs with a payback period of less than four years. The target of the pilot project, which has now started, is to prove the savings potential and usability aspects of our technology.

The Norsepower Rotor Sail Solution is a modernized version of the Flettner rotor. This auxiliary wind propulsion system helps cargo vessels significantly reduce fuel consumption. When the wind conditions are favorable, Norsepower Rotor Sails allow the main engines to be throttled back, saving fuel and reducing emissions while providing the power needed to maintain speed and voyage time.

Rotor sails can be used with new vessels or can be retrofitted to existing ships.